Tokyo Mental Health welcomes Hunter Soileau, LMSW, our newest addition to the international therapy team. Hunter, a US-trained psychotherapist and social worker, brings a diverse background to our practice.
During his undergraduate years at Tulane University in New Orleans, Hunter volunteered with nonprofit organizations at the New Orleans Criminal District Court, supporting the Office of Public Defenders to enhance the justice system’s transparency and fairness.
Hunter’s journey in Japan began in 2017 through the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, where he served as an Assistant Language Teacher for the Shizuoka Prefectural Board of Education. He developed a deep affection for Japan during his time on the rural southwestern coast of the Izu Peninsula and later in Shizuoka City.
Before pursuing graduate studies, Hunter spent 18 months as an AmeriCorps Volunteer Infrastructure Project fellow in Napa, California. He collaborated with regional nonprofits, organizing volunteer programs that provided emergency aid to seniors, immigrants, and the unhoused during the 2019/20 wildfires and COVID-19 pandemic.
Hunter graduated with honors from Columbia University School of Social Work in 2023, earning a Master of Social Work degree in Advanced Clinical Practice and International Social Welfare. Before entering psychotherapy full-time, his clinical training experience included working with neurodivergent youth and young adults at the New York University Ability Project, where he offered counseling and professional development instruction. He also consulted on program development and policy for UN-sponsored NGOs supporting displaced persons and refugees in Cyprus.
Hunter’s therapeutic approach centers on creating a safe, nonjudgmental space for clients to explore their life experiences. He specializes in working with LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants, refugees, and neurodiverse populations, utilizing modalities such as Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT), Narrative Therapy, and Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS).
